For better or worse, 2025 was a unique year for NASCAR diecast collectors. With an effective pause on new diecasts, the return and debut of two significant sponsors and teams, and simultaneously more and fewer 1/64 cars available, 2025 certianly had its share of significant stories for collectors. Here are the most notable:
Tariffs shut down, hike prices of NASCAR diecasts
In what is certainly unprecedented for the NASCAR diecast collecting community, new diecasts were effectively paused for over a month during the 2025 season.
The tariff spat between the Trump Administration and China escalated in March, with Lionel Racing, the sole licensed producer of NASCAR diecasts, announcing it was facing a 20 percent tariff on products imported from China. Lionel then enacted a “tariff surcharge,” a price increase of five percent, on all new orders and some made 20 days prior to its announcement. Lionel then announced a price increase on Raced Win diecasts in addition to the surcharge, hiking a 1/24 ARC Raced Win to $99.95, a 1/24 Elite to $155 and a 1/24 to $13.75, for example.
As the tariffs were imposed, Lionel Racing effectively paused the production and shipment of new diecasts. From April 11 to May 13, no new pre-orders were offered.
In the meantime, Lionel did announce “Coming soon” diecasts that would be available for pre-orders once they resumed. Nearly all of these were later later offered for preorders. The exceptions were Ross Chastain’s Busch Light Flannel scheme and Corey LaJoie’s black Schluter Systems No. 01.
The tariff dispute cooled in May, and Lionel reinstituted shipping and production of new diecasts.
However, tariffs had a potential, longer-lasting impact on the production of the NASCAR Autherntics line.
NASCAR Authentics waves greatly limited in 2025
The NASCAR Authentics line has produced at least nine “waves” of diecasts, which typically includes 8-10 different diecasts per wave, each year since it was introduced in 2016. However, in 2025 just three waves of Authentics were released, and a single wave of Winner’s Circle 1/64s were announced in 2025.
Additionally, all but a few Authentics released in 2025 waves were exclusives — most could otherwise be purchased from Lionel’s Gold Series.
Lionel Racing did not respond to Diecast Mag’s attempts to find out more about the limited number of Authentics and Winner’s Circle waves, and it does not appear any formal announcement has been made by the company on the lack of Authentics/Winner’s Circle releases this year.
Lionel Racing lowers MOQ for 1/64s, upgrades Cup Series diecasts
Though 1/64 collectors can lament the lack of NASCAR Authentics for 2025, Lionel announced two massively positive updates this year for 1/64-scale diecasts.
In June, the company announced it was lowering the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of 1/64-scale diecasts from 2,500 to 1,500 units. Lowering the threshold for producing 1/64 diecasts was a consistent cry from collectors, and the 40-percent MOQ decrease seemed to have immediate effect. From July to October, just three 1/64-scale cars were DNP’d while 1/24 versions were produced. During that same span, 18 cars were DNP’d in all 1/24 versions with the 1/64 version still produced.
Meanwhile, the quality of 1/64 Cup Series diecasts improved. Also in June, Lionel announced that all Cup Series Gold Series 1/64s would include rubber wheels and a diecast chassis, replacing the plastic units of prior models. No price increase was associated with the upgrades. Of note, Cup Series cars in the Authentics line did not receive these upgrades.
The return of Red Bull
The desirability of Red Bull Racing Team diecasts is perhaps the closest collectors can be to unanimity. No matter a collector’s preference for scale, finish, driver, team, or NASCAR generation, it seems all have an appreciation for the Red Bull diecasts of yesteryear. That’s why these diecasts from 2007-11 still command high prices. Several have earned spots on the most expensive eBay diecast sales of the month lists, aided by many collectors refusing to sell any in their possession.
For those who missed out on a Red Bull Racing Team diecast, or couldn’t stomach the high prices they demand today, there was fantastic news in January when the company announced it would be returning to NASCAR. Red Bull partnered with Trackhouse Racing for primary sponsorship on Connor Zilisch’s No. 87 Cup Series ride and the No. 88 of Shane van Gisbergen. These diecasts were later offered in a bevy of finishes and 1/24 and 1/64 scales. Both drivers also had diecasts produced of their WeatherTech/Red Bull Xfinity rides.
These rides showed that Red Bull diecasts had retained their desirability over a decade later, as many special finishes, including Elite Gold 1/24s, sold out quickly.
Zilisch’s No. 87 was the eight-best-selling diecast of the year with van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Red Bull ride landing at No. 10.
JR Motorsports makes a huge splash with its Cup Series debut
The Earnhardt name is still a commanding force in diecast collecting. This is underscored by Earnhardt Jr. late models appearing on Lionel Racing top 10 best-selling diecasts of the year for four straight years. Of note, these are the only non-Cup Series diecasts to appear on the top 10 lists, which began in 2011, and his Budweiser late model was the best-selling diecast of 2024.
The No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevy, driven by Justin Allgaier, was unsurprisingly an instant smash.
The JRM Chevrolet was originally offered in nine different variations, from ARC to Elite Premier and in multiple autographed versions, including ARC and Elites signed by both Allgaier and Earnhardt Jr. Incredibly, all these original versions sold out within 72 hours of being released in January, and many of the lower-production versions sold out the same day as release. Several versions of the scheme were later sold on eBay, many netting upwards of $1,000.
Lionel then expanded its offerings of the JRM No. 40. In February it released a Color Chrome ARC version with a JRM Cup debut stamp on the chassis plate. Come July, Lionel offered a Raced Version of the No. 40 1/24 in a staggering 12 finishes, including an exclusive “whiskey” finish, with a special “sound base.”
Liquor-sponsored cars have long been bypassed for 1/64 models, but in October, Lionel released the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey in its 1/64 Gold Series, further underscoring the desirability of the JRM ride among collectors.
The No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Camaro was the top-selling diecast of 2025. The Raced Version was close behind at No. 3.
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